African leaders adopt strategy on ICC pullout

Delegates attending the 28th African Union (AU) Heads of State Summit walk into the main plenary hall at the AU headquarters prior to the opening ceremony, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, January 30, 2017. (Photo by AFP)

African leaders have renewed their determination to pull out of the International Criminal Court (ICC) collectively, accusing the international body of discriminating against Africans.

The African leaders adopted a strategy for their collective withdrawal at the 28th African Union (AU) summit, which wrapped up in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Tuesday.

A draft of the strategy, which was recited at a closed-door AU session and was later published by AP, recommends that African states build up and strengthen their own independent judicial systems.

The non-binding recommendation also calls on African nations to expand the jurisdiction of the African court of justice and human rights to resolve disputes on the continent “in order to reduce the deference to the ICC.”

This is the latest expression of impatience by African leaders with the court, which some say has focused too narrowly on African leaders.

Desire Assogbavi, the head of Oxfam International’s AU liaison office, confirmed the adoption of the strategy.

However, analysts say African countries are divided on whether to leave the court or try to change some of its policies.

Burundi, Gambia, and South Africa have already said they no longer recognize the court’s jurisdiction and announced their intention to quit. But several other African countries, including Nigeria, Senegal and the Republic of the Congo have spoken up in support of the ICC in recent months.

One of the main African supporters of the ICC is former United Nations secretary general, Kofi Annan.

Since the ICC was launched on July 1, 2002, it has indicted 39 people, all of whom have been African.